NEWS

The 2017 version of the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, the 47th., got underway Tuesday afternoon with a meeting of the OJHL champion Georgetown Raiders and the winners of the SIJHL- the Dryden GM Ice Dogs. The Raiders were taken to seven games before beating the Dudley hosts Trenton by a 1-0 count with Andrew Court scoring the only goal while the Ice Dogs needed just four contests to get past the English River Miners winning the last one 7-3 in Red Lake on April 20 where team captain Derek McPhail (his third season with the 'C') had the game winner. Eleven days rest for Dryden and five for the Raiders.

 

Georgetown, the designated 'home' team for this contest had to do without the services of forward Jordan Anderson, sitting the second of a two-game suspension. Still short on the blueline with injuries to Zach Dybowski, Matthew Thom and Luke Beamish, Michael Vukojevic, 15 years old and recently selected 8th. overall in Phase I of the USHL draft by the Green Bay Gamblers; 16-year-old Mitch Brewer and Carson Pearce stayed in on defence. Nicholas Latinovich, who had the shutout in the League decider remained in the net.

 

Dryden were missing blueliner Jake Gushue who was assessed an 8 game suspension in game one of the League finals. Forward Mark Ziobro, given a three game ban following the same contest, was back in the lineup. Kris Hamlin was also out. As usual Patrick Zubick got the start in goal.

 

Jack Jacome, the OJHL's regular season and playoffs MVP who had to leave the Raiders' game seven of the League final early after a big hit, did not take long to get back in the groove in the first period. Jacome, who had 91 regular season points and  led all players with 24 in the post-season scored two goals just a minute and a half apart to get his club rolling. It was a rocky first frame for the Ice Dogs who were outshot 20-6. Jordan Crocker assisted on both scores with other helpers going to Josh Dickinson and Ryan Takamatsu. Georgetown were unable to click on any of their three powerplay opportunities.

 

In the second stanza the Dogs got one back quickly when Calgary native Jacen Bracko, who connected 41 times in the regular season, scored just as a penalty to the Raiders' Keegan Blasby expired at the 3.46 mark. It was recorded as a powerplay goal with League rookie of the year Eric Stout and  Braedyn Aubin having assists. At the 9.14 mark in a sharp reversal of fortunes it was all tied up when hometown rookie Trey Palermo scored from Woody Galbraith. Just past the midway mark the 'visitors' managed to kill off a too many men on the ice call.

The Raiders had the advantage in shots again, but this time by a slim 10-8 margin. A good period for the Ice Dogs after their wobbly start and the outcome still very much undecided yet.

 

The Raiders Matt McJannet who had been struggling to find the net in the OJHL playoffs scoring only once in 22 games got a big one at the tow minute mark of the third with Jacome, registering his third point of the contest, garnering an assist. Never say die for the Dogs, however, and they used the powerplay again to their advantage with veteran assistant captain Nic Noseworthy putting the finishing touch to a play with McPhail and  Colton Sandboe. At 9.53 with just two seconds left in a penalty to McPhail the Raiders took the lead for the third time in the game with Ryan Takmatsu doing the honours helped by Jacome (point number four) and blueliner Jake Payette. McPhail got another penalty soon after but the Dogs killed this one off and the captain thanked them in a positive way tying up the game with just over three minutes left on the clock. He was set up by the club's regular season and playoff pointscoring leader, Braeden Allkins. Shots on the net favoured Georgetown by a 12-11 margin in this period and 42-25 overall.

 

Fans with lots to talk about  following the see-saw regulation time battle were treated to some extra hockey as the fourth period got underway but they would get to see just four minutes and ten seconds worth before Stout got the winner for Dryden from Sandboe and Galbraith for the what many would see as an upset 5-4 victory. The 19-year old's goal was his first in the post season. His 29 regular season scores placed him tied for third on the team.  He hails from Brainerd, Minnesota where he played for the local high school team. Shots in the overtime were 7-4 to the Raiders but the stat that matters had the GM Ice Dogs celebrating the 5-4 victory.

 

Dryden will look to make it two in a row tomorrow as they play the Powassan Voodoos while the Raiders will search out a win against OJHL foes, the Golden Hawks. Looks like a great tournament in the offing!